Mehamn serves as the administrative centre of Gamvik Municipality within Finnmark county, Norway. Situated on the small Vedvik peninsula, which forms part of the greater Nordkinn Peninsula, the village rests at the southern end of the Mehamnfjorden bay off the Barents Sea. Its precise location is marked by coordinates 71.0356 north latitude and 27.8492 east longitude. The settlement functions as a key hub for the surrounding region, with the village of Gamvik located approximately 16 kilometres to the east and Kjøllefjord in Lebesby Municipality lying about 30 kilometres to the southwest.

The area's industrial history began with Svend Foyn establishing a whaling station constructed between 1884 and 1885. Operational from spring 1885, it became the largest of its kind in Finnmark County until Foyn’s death in 1894, after which his company managed operations. The village also witnessed the Mehamn Rebellion in June 1903, where angry fishermen destroyed the station's machinery and chimneys due to disputes over fishing rights. This event led to the Labour Party entering parliament and laws preserving whales in Norwegian waters.

The village covers an area of 0.59 square kilometres and features significant historical architecture, including the Svend Foyn Chapel established in 1887 and the Mehamn Chapel located within the settlement itself. The landscape is defined by its coastal position on the peninsula, with nearby landmarks including the Barents Sea and the Nordkinn Peninsula base. The site of the former whaling station remains a focal point of local heritage, commemorating both the industrial era and the subsequent social unrest that reshaped regional politics.

Cultural appeal is deeply tied to the village's maritime history and the dramatic events of the 1903 rebellion, which influenced national labor movements. Visitors are drawn to the historical significance of the whaling industry and the preservation laws that emerged from local conflicts. The area also holds aviation history, marked by a 1982 Widerøe Twin Otter crash into the sea during approach, attributed to clear-air turbulence over the fjord. These events contribute to the village's narrative as a place where industry, nature, and society have intersected dramatically.

Mehamn has a population of 712 as of 2025, with a 2023 count of 703 residents across its small area. The economy has historically relied on whaling and fishing, though the latter faced challenges from the former. Transportation access includes Norwegian County Road 888 connecting to the E6 highway, air services via Mehamn Airport to Tromsø, and Hurtigruten coastal ship stops. The climate is boreal with short, cool summers and long winters moderated by the sea, occasionally experiencing heat waves above 30 °C.